Being Merciful
Sermon Notes
Merciful means to show compassion or forgiveness to others. One of the ways to be merciful is to realize that others have a need for mercy. We are all sinners in need of God’s love, and we should treat one another with mercy. Think about the unsaved? Jesus said blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. We all need mercy in our life. Do you need it from your boss or our family? Who do you need it from? Do you find it hard to be merciful? We are going to find today that God is the merciful one, just like we should be.
Matthew 20:29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
Matthew 20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
A cry of faith for mercy. Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Matthew 20:31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
The crowd's motives may have been selfish, in other words looking after their own desires just like we do sometimes. We hinder people in one way or another from coming to Christ. The crowd following Jesus is often the biggest roadblock to others crying out to him for mercy. Mathew 15:22-24 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 20:32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
Matthew 20:33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
I believe that if the church cries out today, Jesus will hear our call and open our eyes and our ears. We will be able to see and hear things we’ve never been able to see or hear before. We must humble ourselves and praise Jesus, so that our eyes and ears can be opened to receive him.
Conclusion: He is merciful because He is love (1 John 4:8 ). As sinners, we deserve punishment. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ( Romans 3:23 ); God’s righteousness requires punishment for sin—Since God does love us and is merciful. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life ( John 3:16 ).